Study links animal abuse, home violence

COLUMBUS - She lived with her two cats and her dog in her car
for two weeks.

The fear that kept her from going back home was the same fear
that made her leave. She was afraid of what her abuser at home
would do to her and her pets.

But after 14 days, she knew she needed help. That is when she
turned to the Center for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
Survivors in Columbus. That woman, a Center for Survivors client,
is one of many who might have had their pets threatened or who
witnessed abuse to animals at the hands of their own abuser.

According to statistics, there are ties between animal abuse and
human violence. To help educate the community on that link, the
Center for Survivors is launching an animal cruelty/human violence
campaign called The Connection.

"Our goal with this campaign is to raise awareness of the
correlation between animal abuse and all forms of domestic and
societal human violence," said Debi Widhalm, volunteer coordinator.
"We are primarily targeting area veterinarians, law enforcement,
animal control agencies, our area humane society, educators and
adult and child protective services."

The campaign got started after staff attended two national
conferences that reported on the connection between animal cruelty,
which includes neglect, physical abuse or the killing of an animal,
and human violence.

"Animal abuse is a serious crime in its own right. However, the
ties between animal abuse and human violence are unmistakable. The
evidence is compelling. Animal cruelty is just one aspect of a
social environment marked by violence," Widhalm said.

Through months of research on the subject, Widhalm and other
committee members came up with numerous statistics and background
information to support the correlation. Those correlations can be
seen in domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse cases.

Some of the statistics are:

Animals are frequent targets in domestic violence situations.
Abused children might take their frustration out on a pet. Adults
might maim or kill a family pet to show control over a spouse or
children.

75 percent of women entering shelters are pet owners. Of those
women, 71 percent said their abuser either injured or killed their
family pet.

In 88 percent of homes with prosecutable animal cruelty,
children were also being physically abused.

In more than two-thirds of cases involving elder abuse, the
perpetrator may neglect or abuse the elder's pet as a form of
control or retaliation, out of frustration over their caretaking
responsibilities, or as a way to extract financial assets from the
victim.

Evidence has also been seen locally at The Center for Survivors.
Widhalm said that since she and other staff members learned about
the link between animal cruelty and human violence, they began
asking clients if animal cruelty was present in their situations.
Many of the clients have said their pets have been abused or even
killed by their abuser.

When looking at the cases, Widhalm said animal abuse serves as a
predictor of other violent and abusive behavior.

Animal abuse is often found in the background of homicide,
vandalism and arson perpetrators, Widhalm said. Many serial killers
and even students involved in recent school shootings have
histories of abusing animals first before moving on to human
targets.

"People who are violent to animals rarely stop there," she said.
Widhalm said many young children go through a stage of "innocent
cruelty" where they might hurt insects. But if that behavior
persists or if the child turns that behavior on to larger animals
like dogs, cats and birds, that child may be living in an abusive
environment and is at risk of future violence and criminal
activity.

Also, a child who abuses an animal may be imitating parents who
have abused them or other family members. The child may feel
helpless and hurt the only member of the family who is more
vulnerable than he or she is - the family pet.

Staff members at the Center for Survivors have incorporated what
they learned about the connection into their work. They use animal
abuse history as an indicator in abuser lethality assessments. They
have also started programs like pet therapy in which volunteers
take their pets to visit women and children in shelters to help
teach them empathy for animals. The Center for Survivors also
offers to find shelter for companion animals.

Widhalm said prior to going to the conferences, she wasn't aware
of the connection between animal abuse and human violence, but now
she wants to educate the community on the link. Staff members are
available to make presentations on the subject to any service
groups or organizations.

"(Animal cruelty) is just one part of the cycle and it is very
important that we get the word out," Widhalm said.